UNO ENJOYS TWO DAYS OF SUNSHINE
For the past two days, weaner Uno has been spending long hours resting on the pebbled beach near Lincoln Park's Colman Pool. First Responders David and Lynn have also spent long days there, with the help of numerous Seal Sitters volunteers, ensuring his/her safety at the popular park where illegally off-leash dogs, a danger to resting seals, are all too common.

Both days, Uno has stayed from morning until dark, requiring many volunteer hours. Thanks to all of the Seal Sitters volunteers who pitched in to help. It truly "takes a village" to keep seals safe on busy urban beaches.

DEAD WEANER RECOVERED FROM OFFSHORE RAFT, TAKEN FOR NECROPSY
It was a busy day yesterday on another note as Seal Sitters took on the task of recovering the body of a weaner who died on the raft just offshore at the north end of Lincoln Park.

The raft has been heavily used by numerous seals over the past weeks (as many as 7 at a time). Over the past few days, neighbors noticed and reported what appeared to be a lifeless small seal. Timing of the recovery was critical, so as not to deter the many seals from continuing to use this safe refuge just off a highly trafficked beach. Only members of NOAA’s Marine Mammal Stranding Network have the designated authority to disturb marine mammals with discretion in case of recovery of a body for necropsy or rescue of an injured animal. In this situation, the animal was deteriorating in view of the public, causing distress and repeated reports, and a decaying body might potentially deter other animals from using the safety of the raft to rest.

First Responder Lynn's husband, Don Brubeck, offered to perform the tricky task of maneuvering the body off the raft and back to shore. We chose a time when there were only two weaners on the raft with the body. Weaner One left the minute Don put the kayak in the water and Weaner Two was reluctant to leave the raft even as the kayak was just feet away, but finally slipped off into the water.

Windy weather did not help Don out, as both the raft and kayak were pitching in the waves. First Responders talked to passersby to let them know what was going on. Don was finally able to get the body into the net and paddle back to shore. The seal was delivered to WDFW's Lakewood office for necropsy.

Within 15-20 minutes after Don's departure, one of the weaners was already back on the raft, sleeping soundly in the sun.

Many thanks to Don for taking on the very physical task of recovering the dead seal. Special thanks to SS volunteer Theresa Hall, who donated the kayak for just these purposes.

Tags: Uno